5 Airport Tips Every Traveler Should Know

Whether you are a frequent traveler or hop a plane once in a blue moon, there are a few measures you can take to spare yourself stress and delay.

1. You do well to be more than punctual. Early arrival at the airport relieves pressure and avoids unpleasant surprises. In fact, many airlines exhort their passengers to be ready to board an hour and a half ahead of time (two hours for overseas travel). Considering the fact that the planes' doors are often shut 10 to 15 minutes before the published departure time, getting to the airport well in advance prevents undue anxiety.

2. Keep the documents accessible. Tickets, boarding passes and identification proofs are standard fare in air travel. Getting to the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) checkpoint with the passport or driver's license deep in the bowels of a purse or briefcase will not only hold you up but keep those behind you waiting as well. Those over 18 years of age should check the TSA website to confirm their IDs are acceptable for embarking on a flight.

3. Get an accurate reading on the weight of your luggage. One advantage to flying nowadays is that most major airports have scales where passengers can weigh their bags before check-in (another good reason to arrive early!). Also, do not try to over-stuff the carry-on bag to avoid paying for excess poundage. Most airline staffers are hip to that trick and will call you on it.

4. Know the floor plan. If you do not fly often--or are at an unfamiliar airport - you should not waste time feeling your way around. The best strategy is to look up the airport map online and determine your exact route from the car to check-in to the gate of departure, i.e. where and when to turn left or right. Trying to figure out where you are going will only add crunch and hassle to this leg of your trip. A print out of the floor plan is a wise item to bring along. Nothing is worse than wandering.

5. Enroll in TSA's pre-screening program. This is a paid service whereby fliers can meet with TSA representatives for a brief in-person interview before a date of departure. Once approved, the passenger will receive an individual reference number he or she can use when making a reservation. At flight time, they whisk through the TSA process without as much as removing a shoe. TSA recognizes the passenger number for five years.

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